Tokyo 2020 opens in the best way for Italy. Malagò had said that the goal was to exceed 28 medals and whoever starts well is half the battle! The 20-year-old from Brindisi Dell'Aquila outclassed the Tunisian Jendoubi in the final, climbing to the top step of the podium.
Tokyo 2020
Dell'Aquila who competed in the -58 kg category has therefore brought gold to our medal table, distinguishing himself in the taekwondo. It is his first Olympic gold in Tokyo 2020. Overcoming the Tunisian 16-12 Mohamed Khalil Jendoubi at the end of a beautiful, hard-fought race. The blue has made a good Olympic journey, with three splendid victories in the three previous matches. Dell'Aquila, from the eighths of final onwards, before the final race, it was unstoppable. The Brindisi player is only twenty years old, but he fought with confidence and an experience worthy of a veteran.
He competed without ever losing focus throughout the day, from the first round to the final. Well, as the sportsmen could have followed, Dell'Aquila won always dominating, starting with a clear 26-13 against the Hungarian Omar Salim. Then, in the quarter-finals the opponents proved to be of greater caliber, facing the Thai Ramnarong Sawekwiharee.
Italian gold for Taekwondo in Tokyo 2020
Beat the Thai with 37-17, the blue started to believe it. Then, in the semifinal against the Argentine Lucas Lautaro Guzman, the Olympic clash was almost a "derby". However Dell'Aquila has always dominated the race, outclassing the Argentine especially mentally until 29-10 final.
The last race was breathtaking and always poised, as fans will have been able to see. The last meeting, the decisive one, was unlocked only at the end of the third round; with a very rapid series of high kicks to the trunk all on target. The medal therefore arrived in the final and decisive last seconds; in the Cesarini area to use a football metaphor. The world champion athlete from Brindisi wanted to dedicate the medal to his grandfather, who died just a month ago. The blue interviewed, visibly moved and vibrant with emotion, said he was certain that his beloved grandfather was certainly watching him from up there.
Vito Dell'Aquila
Vito Dell'Aquila did not want to miss the opportunity to declare that to win this gold and leave for Tokyo 2020, he had to vaccinate. “I got vaccinated from Covid to come to Tokyo to get an Olympic gold medal. I'm honest, I had one more reason. But I am very happy to join the campaign launched by the president of Coni Malagò to promote vaccination: it is right for everyone to do it ". Vito Dell'Aquila then declared that he was also very proud of being the first Italian medalist born in the 2000s.
Vito hopes to see other golds, in what is a very special Olympics. It was a very tough year for the athlete, especially from a personal point of view due to Covid. Everything seemed to go wrong. However, in 2021 he found his concentration again, he returned to himself and the results were not long in coming.
Carlo of Molfetta
The press asked Vito what his secret is and he candidly replied that where he trains he has Roberto Baglivo, a special teacher. Furthermore, two Olympic champions in the same gym cannot be a coincidence. The other is Carlo Molfetta, gold in London 2012. Vito wanted to emphasize that he comes from a humble family where he was taught to fight for his dreams. In this regard, he also humbly thinks he was lucky, but he reiterates that these years, both in training and in life, he has only thought about taekwondo. This medal is the symbol of an Italy that knows how to start again, even when it falls. Angelo Cito, president of the taekwondo federation, rejoices talking on the phone with the press for the victory of the blue in Tokyo 2020. He then waves the tricolor high in Tokyo.
Photo source: facebook page @ConiNews · Sport
